Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Senate is poised to consider broad energy legislation following weeks of stalled debate, with The Hill reporting Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has set up a series of votes on proposed amendments that could begin today.
- Two holds on the legislation, one related to offshore drilling revenues and the other to the water crisis in Flint, Mich., have been lifted, allowing the legislation to move forward.
- Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S 2012) would address grid modernization and reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Dive Insight:
After weeks of delay the U.S. Senate could vote on the most sweeping energy legislation in a decade, a measure that is broadly supported for its efforts to modernize the United States' electrical grid, boost efficiency and ease exports of liquefied natural gas.
Last week, two Senators have dropped holds on broad energy legislation. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) dropped her objections over an aid package to assist with the water crisis in Flint, Mich. And Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (D) withdrew his hold on the energy bill after an amendment he believed would expand offshore drilling, potentially to his home state, was pulled from discussion.
Murkowski, who has been shepherding the bill through Congress, has said she doesn't believe it will take Senators long to vote on the bill. “We can kick it out in less than a day. That was my promise to the Leader," she said last week.
